Effect of Boron on Magnetic Properties and Corrosion Resistance of High Energy Magnets

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Element boron played an important role on magnetic properties and corrosion resistance of high energy density NdFeB products. The magnets were prepared by traditional powder metallurgy technique. It was found that with addition of 5.53 % B there was easy-plane phase formed. It owned not only lower remanence Br and coercivity iHc, but also poor corrosion resistance of magnet. As B content increase, the magnetic properties improved greatly, and obtained better properties at a content 5.7-5.87 % B. As increased B content further, superabundance B element formed too much B rich phase and led to Br decrease. Volume percent of phases calculated by theory formula, with the consumption of 0.1 % Nd oxided, it can be found that as B content increased from 5.53 %, the volume of main phase increased and easy-plane type Nd2Fe17 phase decreased in magnet, which resulted in Br, iHc increase. As B content increased higher than 5.82 %, more B rich phases formed which well isolated main phase grains and resulted in iHc increase. But too much B rich phase would decrease main phase proportion and lead to Br decrease. Examination of microstructure of magnets showed as B content increased from 5.53 % to 6.16 %, average matrix grain size was enlarged from 6.5µm to 8.2µm, and the proportion of sharp shape grains relatively increased as well. Abnormal grain growth was easily happened at higher B content. In addition, the decreased squareness Hk/iHc of magnets at higher B content also suggested inconsistent distribution of grain size and shape. Corrosion current density measured by polarization test for magnet with addition of 5.76 % B, near stoichiometric composition of Nd2Fe14B, owned lowest value and best corrosion resistance. Formation of Nd2Fe17 phase (lower B content) or B rich phase (higher B content) was not benefit for corrosion resistance improvement.